Gangs in Ashburn

I think we've already gone over this... there is lots to do around here. The spoiled kids think there isn't anything... boo hoo

 

How about get a job? There's something to do...

 

Well said, Yankee!

 

Well said, Yankee!

 

So boomer, explain what there is to do?

I know exactly what there is and isn't to do in Ashburn, cause I'm the one driving my daughter to Sterling to see a movie, or go to lasertag. And to Herndon to bowl or to go to C3.

The only thing close to Ashburn is the icehouse, and that is populated by tweens more than by teens. My daughter didn't wanna go there since she hit 15. In addition to that, they have the morals police there that doesn't allow a 16 year old to walk hand in hand with her boyfriend.

So where exactly do teenagers go in Ashburn?

Marianne

 

Yankee, I agree.

Though I have no children of my own, what you've said sounds logical.

I've also had a few coworkers that I told about what is happening mention something to me about our community establishing a mandatory curfew ... I've no idea how this is done and then ultimately enforced, and even less certain how many Broadlands resodents will support it, but what I am sure of is that I don't want this to become a less than desirable neighborhood because a few kids with too much time on their hands, little supervision, and no real sense of how truly advantaged they are that they are willing to cause damage in their own communities.

I am open to any suggestions and am willing to help.

 

My 16 year old put it best. The only real choice teens have in Ashburn is what grocery store parking lot to hang out in. At least they have several to choose from.

 

When I was growing up, I had a bike and went to alot of places. You can hang out at a friends house, pool, play sports (paintball is real close), explore the woods, mow the lawn for your parents, etc, etc...

I really don't feel sorry for these "poor, poor kids who have nothing to do".

 

The problem is, IMO, kids today don't know how to handle being bored. Their parents strive to keep them occupied at young ages, so when they become teenagers and find themselves bored, they don't know what to do with themselves. I still think having a YMCA in Ashburn with a teen club would help. I grew up in a very small town, but there was a Boys' Club where everyone could meet their friends and hang out. There was also teen club there as well. I'm not saying our small town didn't have problems, but at least the teens had a place to go.

 

These bad kids in Ashburn do these destructive things not just because they are bored, they just enjoy being destructive.
There are plenty of teens that are busy doing useful things. My daughters have moments that they have nothing to do but they dont feel like causing trouble in the neighborhood or ruining someones property because they have nothing to do.

This has to do with self control. Too many kids today have no self control.

The parents are the same and they encourage it, too much junky tv, junky food, buy what ever you want now, why wait, go to the theater and see lousy PG13 rated movies that should be rated R, play fast paced violent video games, etc, etc.
A YMCA would be helpful but it wouldnt be the solution. Things are different than when we were kids. Kids today are exposed to way to much at such a young age, they do not know how to process Too Much Information and all of the commercialization of that Information. There are no patient + calm adults to spend time with them.

 

Don't start on movies and video games, they are not the reason kids get into gangs. I never said that the vandalism would be cured by providing our kids with an opportunity to hang out together, that is an issue that these kids have and their parents have to handle. But movies and video games are not to blame, despite the fact that many try to make them the scapegoat to avoid taking personal responsibility.

I am probably one of the most permissive parents around. I absolutely refuse to monitor music for language and tell my teenage kids they can't have a CD because there are dirty words on it. My teenage kids can play computer games all they want as long as their homework is done and they have taken care of their chores, including FPSs These are only games. Words are only words. Movies are only movies. For some reason my kids understand that, and I have NEVER had one in a gang, beating up other kids, destroying peoples property, or do drugs. I have grown children that grew up rather nicely having a working mom that took care of her kids by being supportive and providing a trusting and safe environment. And no, I wasn't just lucky. I just insisted that my kids are MY responsibility, and that I would not let anyone elses morals interfere with how I brought up my kids. Does my tyeenage daughter use language? You betcha. So do the kids of the parents that won't allow censored CDs in the house. Does my daughter do it often? No, she knows she can't shock me so it's not special.

Parents are always the ones that are ultimately responsible. But that doesn't change the fact that there is no place for teenagers to hang out in Ashburn (well other than the parking lots). And I for one won't let my daughter go out in the woods (as if we had any, no dice on that one. And paintball is something that fortunately my daughter is not into. So again, what is there to do for teenagers in Ashburn?

Marianne

 

"Things we different when we were kids"
Guess what? People have been saying that for generations. My parents said that, their parents said that, etc. etc.
It's no different. Teenagers always have and always will be rebellious, testing limits, rude and obnoxious. Even well behaved teens go through spells from time to time. Teens will always complain there is nothing to do. Teens are in that transition stage when they don't have the adult freedoms they feel they deserve. We all went through it. It's all part of growing up. As for what to do about it? That is the question every generation of parents have asked for centuries. There is no one answer. It depends on the child, it depends on the parents, it depends on the situation. Some kids will straighten up with a talking to some need to be locked up.
But I will say this. Many parents today try to be more of a friend than a parent to their children. They say " I don't want to be like my parents" I say why not? We have all done pretty well for ourselves. No matter how we feel about how we were raised our parents must have done something right.
Lastly - Any parent who is aware of their child wandering the streets at 3am and does nothing about it needs to be held accountable.

 

I agree with many of the points that have been raised here.

But in the absence of (1) every parent (no matter how well behaved they believe their little darlings are - and they may well be - who really knows for sure?), having a heart-to-heart discussion with their kids, or (2) a miraculous overnight solution to "what else is there for bored teenagers in Ashburn to do?" what can we homeowners who have a good deal of pride and money invested into their property do?

Apparently last Sunday's nocturnal "fun" was not the first time significant vandalism has occurred in Ashburn/Broadlands. I for one did not enjoy having my plants replanted in my neighbors yard or having to retrieve heavy (!) tree borders that I had installed from my driveway and other areas of my property.

I'm really interested in discussing a way to nip this in the bud. If it's our local kids (and it could be) what do we do? Conversely, if its not locals, again, what are the options?

I talked to Wes today and he sounded pretty frustrated that he's tried to organize a neighborhood watch and only 3 homeowners came to the meeting. I don't know when the meeting was held (I've been living in Broadlands since July 03), but I would sure be interested in this as ONE of hopefully many options. I do plan to email Scott Bayles who Wes indicated was spearheading this effort to get a current status. Wes also mentioned that Loudoun's sheriff's dept was going to "step up" patrols, but I wouldn't rely on that solving the problem on its own.

 

We are trying to get the neighborhood watch active! I put a thread up about it a few weeks ago and (without checking back) I believe there were maybe 5 or 6 people who stepped up. I will help in any way I can to get this going, but a handful of people wont be enough. Maybe we can have a sign up sheet at one of the next community meetings and see if there is any more interest.